When you click on a page, scroll past this week's featured photo to view.

WELCOME!

This site is dedicated to sharing what we have learned with you! Enjoy our tutorials, and if you have a question please feel free to ask! I know one of our sugar enthusiasts will either know or try to find the answer.
We all have something to share...and we all have something to learn!


___________________________________________________________



Nothing says Irish like Beautiful Lace

Nothing says Irish like Beautiful Lace
Click on photo for Earlene Moore's tutorial for beautiful fondant lace and have fun with your next cake!


.............................................................................................................................

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
.............................................................................................................................



Tuesday, December 16, 2008

How to make a wired gumpaste swan



You need the following: Two appropriately sized cutters. These ones are amaryllis cutters from Tinkertech Two. Any lily-like cutter will work for this. A chestnut veiner - or similar. White florist tape and florist wire, gauge 20 and gauge 24. As you can see, I only had green. I think I might have to go shopping for cake toys again soon. What a burden (or not). You also need gumpaste, but you probably already figured that one out. And gum glue and a fine pair of scissors.


Start with the neck. Roll a sausage and shape a beak at the end. Dip a piece of gauge 20 wire in gum glue and wire the neck. Curve it and leave it to dry for 24 hours.


For the wings, roll out gumpaste on a grooved board and cut out 4 large shapes. If you use curved cutters, like here, make sure you have two facing each way. Dip pieces of gauge 24 wire in gum glue and put all the feathers on wire. Then vein them. Make sure you vein them so the dents are on the front and the wire on the back.


Now take your pair of fine scissors and cut the edges so it will look like feathers. With a ball tool, work the outer edges so they curve and look more like feathers. I forgot to take a photo of that, sorry.


For the tail, make 3 smaller feathers the same way as you made the larger ones. Leave all 7 feathers to dry overnight. Curve them over something. An empty Pringles can is the perfect size for the larger feathers (and a great excuse to eat Pringles) and for the tail feathers, an empty roll for kitchen towels work just fine. Or a 4.5 oz Americolor bottle. Leave to dry for 24 hours. Remember, drying times may vary from place to place. Humidity is very low in Denmark right now, so I only had to let them dry for 6 hours, but I know some of my friends from southern parts of USA might need much longer drying time, especially in the summer.


When everything is nice and dry, it's time to assemble. It's quite simple, almost like assembling a lily. With the neck as a center, attach the feathers in pairs, two large feathers on each side.



The tail feathers are taped together as one, then bent at an angle and taped to the neck. I managed to break a feather in the process - always make extra!


Here's a top view of the assembled swan, complete with two and a half tail feathers. These swans are best stored like here, with the wire stuck in a small jar with dried beans. This way they won't break or tilt.


If you wish, you can paint the beaks and make eyes with an edible marker. They make for a great wedding cake topper. I cut drinking straws to appropriate length, and stick them in the cake. Then I stick the wire in the straw, so it wont come in contact with the cake.

You can make the swan any color you like. Have fun!




Sif Jenson -2008
all rights reserved

This material may not be republished or reproduced in any manner without the expressed permission of the author.

17 comments:

  1. Wow! Sif, your swans are incredible. Thank you for sharing your step by step process!
    --and even provided an excuse to shop for sugar tools too! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh...thanks so much for putting this on the blog!! I love it!!

    I think I may try to do this on one of my bridal show cakes next month!!

    (((love ya)))

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow!
    Your swans are absolutely gorgeous... thank you so much for a detailed how-to
    I will be attempting them soon for a wedding cake!

    ReplyDelete
  4. wow Sif.... your work gets better and better.... keep it up!

    ReplyDelete
  5. How gorgeous...my wings are drying as we speak (or type ;D)....how do you keep the wire from ripping the sugarpaste when forming and bending?

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was looking for feathers for a mask and this fits the bill perfectly.
    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  7. wow,super,thanks for sharing,i will try,your swan is very nice

    ReplyDelete
  8. is magical....thanks so much for your post

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks it was a very good guide, now to make a wired gumpaste swan is simple with the help of your tips. Kudos

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for posting! I was looking for feathers and found exactly what I needed! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  11. how do you make amaryllis lily from sugarpaste

    ReplyDelete
  12. I just finished my first Swan, and it's not bad for a first attempt. Your instructions were great and I plan to practice these and add them to my decorating file.
    Thank you soo much!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks so much for this post on Gumpaste swans. I have a project due on Monday in my wedding cakes class and I'm excited because I'm using love swans on my cake as a topper....appretiate it!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. The swans came out amaizing in my spring theme cake.....Thanks so much again....I would love to email you the picture of the final cake. What is your email address?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh my god!!! Look so great and lovely!!! I´ll try to make one, if i have the nerves... :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi, I’m wondering if you build the neck around the already curved wire? I don’t see how to form the neck, then insert the wire? Beautiful swan!

    ReplyDelete

We really appreciate your comments and always look forward to hearing from you!

However we do not like spam, derogatory comments, or foul language. We would appreciate it if your would refrain from doing so or your comment will be deleted.

Search This Blog

The Tutorials This Week Were Generously Shared by

RHONDA CHRISTENSEN, EARLENE MOORE, BOBBIE NOTO, EDNA DE LA CRUZ & TONI BRANCATISANO

And to ALL of our Readers...

Above all, have fun and keep baking!

Think CHOCOLATE!

A Very Sweet Tutorial by Bobbie Noto

A Very Sweet Tutorial by Bobbie Noto
I was instantly in love when Bobbie Noto shared this cookie with SugarTeachers! She is an amazing talent. For instructions on how to create this adorable cookie, click on the photo and don't forget to subscribe to Bobbie's website!

Pillow Cake Tutorial by Toni Brancatisano

Pillow Cake Tutorial by Toni Brancatisano
How beautiful! A great tutorial shared byToni Brancatisano. Click on photo to see the tutorial!

Pistachio-Cardamom Cake

Pistachio-Cardamom Cake
Click on link for Edna De La Cruz's dee-lish cake recipe.

Related Posts with Thumbnails